This delicate-looking lead glass sweetmeat stand, acquired by the DAR Museum this year, was made in England between 1730 and 1760.
Sweetmeats are candied fruits and nuts usually served for dessert. They could be dry or wet, and either made at home or purchased from a merchant. For instance, in 1703 Boston merchant Henry Lloyd imported sweetmeats, raisins and currants from Europe and the West Indies. New Yorker Victor du Pont paid $10 for “glass urns for a dessert” presumably used to serve sweetmeats. The confections’ colors displayed particularly well when served in glass dishes and baskets. In this example, each hanging basket held an individual portion, while the top bowl contained additional portions.